Union Budget 2025-26: Healthcare Initiatives

The Union Budget 2025-26 has made significant strides in positioning India as a leader in global healthcare and innovation.  Key initiatives focus on enhancing medical infrastructure, educational opportunities, and global collaboration.

Healthcare Allocation and Infrastructure

• Budget Allocation: ₹90,958 crore dedicated to healthcare.
• Medical Seats Expansion: 
  • 75,000 additional medical seats over the next five years.
  • 10,000 seats to be added in FY26 alone.
• Daycare Cancer Centres: Investment in 200 centres in district hospitals for better accessibility to cancer treatment.

Global Healthcare Initiatives

• 'Heal in India' and 'Heal by India' initiatives promote India as a global healthcare destination by: 
  • Streamlining visa processes.
  • Enhancing hospital infrastructure.
  • Fostering public-private partnerships.
• Training and deploying Indian healthcare professionals abroad to address global shortfalls.

Non-Communicable Diseases and Cost Reduction

• Acknowledgement of the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
• Customs duty exemption on 36 life-saving drugs, making treatments more affordable.
• Introduction of 13 new patient assistance programs for better access to medications.

Innovation and Technology in Healthcare

• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health: 
  • National Centres of Excellence for innovation in diagnostics, treatment, and research.
• Private and public hospitals' role in advancing healthcare technology, exemplified by Apollo Hospitals' Proton Therapy for cancer care.

National Growth and Development

The Budget highlights healthcare as a pillar of national growth, evolving from basic care to providing world-class treatment. The synergy of 'Heal in India', 'Heal by India', and innovation-driven care is setting new global benchmarks.